Liver Specialist in Kochi

Liver ?

The liver is an essential organ for overall health and plays a critical role in maintaining various bodily functions. It is susceptible to various diseases and conditions, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and seeking medical care when necessary are important for liver health.

Some of the key functions of the liver include:

1. Metabolism: The liver metabolizes nutrients, drugs, and toxins that enter the body. It helps convert food into energy, stores vitamins and minerals, and produces bile, which aids in digestion and absorption of fats.

2. Detoxification: The liver filters and detoxifies harmful substances, including drugs, alcohol, and metabolic waste products. It helps remove toxins from the bloodstream, converting them into less harmful substances that can be excreted from the body.

3. Protein Production: The liver plays a crucial role in synthesizing various proteins essential for blood clotting, immune function, and transport of substances in the bloodstream. It produces albumin, which helps maintain proper fluid balance in the body.

4. Storage: The liver stores glycogen, a form of glucose that serves as an energy reserve. It also stores vitamins, minerals, and iron, which are released when needed by the body.

5. Bile Production: The liver produces bile, a greenish-yellow fluid that aids in the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine.

6. Hormone Regulation: The liver helps regulate hormone levels by breaking down hormones that are no longer needed or active.

Keep Your Liver Healthy

The liver is a large, reddish-brown organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It is one of the vital organs in the human body and performs numerous important functions.

4 Common Test for Liver Functions

1. Liver Enzyme Tests: These tests measure the levels of specific enzymes in the blood that are released by the liver. The two primary enzymes measured are alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Elevated levels of these enzymes may indicate liver damage or inflammation.

2. Bilirubin Test: Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. The liver processes and excretes bilirubin. Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood can indicate liver dysfunction or obstruction of bile flow.

3. Albumin Test: Albumin is a protein produced by the liver and is essential for maintaining proper fluid balance in the body. A decreased level of albumin may suggest liver disease or malnutrition.

4. Prothrombin Time (PT) Test: This test measures the time it takes for blood to clot. The liver produces certain clotting factors necessary for normal blood clotting. An increased PT time may indicate impaired liver function.

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